Salt Lake City is...arriving a couple of days early and teach an all day workshop hosted at The Market Street Grill and organized by Heidi of Foodie Crush.Meeting people for the first time and others whose blog I have been following for years. Being able to pass on anything and everything I can think of that might help. Guiding.

Workshop is...taking my job seriously. My words. The impact of what we do as photographers, stylist, bloggers. Without taking myself too seriously.

Workshop is...the remarkable amount of care and dedication from everyone on staff at Market Street Grill to provide the attendees with the tools and time to have a memorable experience. And the food...gosh the food...

Workshop is...It's finding out what people wish to do and helping them reach those goals. It's listening and practicing along with them.

Workshop is...discovering new ways to style and shoot. Always being open, aware and happily surprised. The way the chef plated this cake makes it so creative and fun to shoot and yet, I would have never thought of it. Happy discovery...!

Evo 11 is...Rachael and Jyl. The two powerhouses who founded Evo. Gracious of their talent. Generous of their skills. Beautiful in their friendships to others. Kind. Immensely patient. They make Evo my favorite conference to attend. Not kidding.

Evo 11 is... taking a deep breath and rooming with complete strangers and leaving with two wonderful friends. I had the chance to share a room with Sarah from season 11 of The Biggest Loser and Heather from one of my favorite blogs, Whipper Berry.Evo 11 is ...bumping into Evo 10 roomate Kami from No Biggie (far right) and to get one of her special hugs.

Evo 11 is... meeting up with gorgeous Helen Jane and catching up, laughing, hugging and brainstorming posts ideas, life tips and just giving her some plenty of support during her Ignite talk.

Evo 11 is... having the chance one more time to be inspired by super fantastic women, entrepreneurs. Makers like Alli and Barbara. I always feel recharged and refueled after a conversation with them.

Evo 11 is ...not only about the women ya'll. There were men too. Married. Single. Fathers. Brothers. Husbands. And awesome...!

Evo 11 is...sitting next to someone such as Jenny who can cry as much as I can during Me Ra Koh closing keynote and smile as much as I do when hanging out with super talented photographer, web designer and dear friend Aimee.

Evo 11...is being able to teach a food photography and styling workshop in one of the most serene and gorgeous locations I have taught. Lookout Cabin. All the way up the mountain...

That workshop was a team effort between Chef Murcko, his staff, Caitleen of The Canyons Resort and yours truly to make sure that all attendees had not only a good time but also walked away with more knowledge to share with others.

Ok, so Evo is also about filling your metaphorical glass with inspirational ideas coming at you from all directions.

Just because I can...having lunch there was pretty darn special.

See...they do fill up glasses there. Orange Bubble Fitzer. No alcohol. None needed with the altitude...!

And just when you think awesome has reached a new level of delicious, you discover the dessert table. And my jaws dropped. And my toes curl. Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberries and Basil Chiffonade. Yep.

Evo 11 is... about letting loose. There is no distinction of any kind on a dance floor. We all look a bit weirder than we did five minutes ago. And it's fantastic. No one cares about what blogs you read, which one you write and what's the latest app downloaded. Unplugging and letting loose.

Salt Lake City is...having a dear and long time blog friend, Kalyn, gather a few people one Sunday evening for a little potluck.It's about feeling as much at home as I do when I am the one gathering my buds around a glass of wine and salad.

Salt Lake City is...those two. Soon to be three. They are like family to us. There are no words to describe how proud I am of them and what they accomplish.

Thank you to everyone who made the workshops in Salt Lake City and Park City possible. Thank you to everyone who came and asked questions both in SLC and during Evo. Thank you to everyone who gave me a hug, a smile, or a drink.

A special thank you Kristen for being so wonderfully and gently in my life.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I have been cooking and baking up a storm for work and home and can't wait to share with you this week!

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comments:

I am so glad you were able to come to Utah. I really enjoyed your workshops and learned so much. Your talent, passion, and willingness to share is inspiring. It was a joy and pleasure to have you in our home. Our door is always open for you and Bill. Please come visit us again soon. We are blessed to know you. Hugs and Love! xoxo

I must be having a big Hallmark kind of day b/c for some reason I am crying as I read this post...Helene, your words are just so beautiful, so genuine, the images you showed of your time there, it all is just so beautiful that I am moved to tears!

I was in Mexico City when Evo was going on. I wish to god I had been there. I would have LOVED to learn from you, be with these amazing women (and men) and have such a wonderful sense of community and love!

Gosh. Next year! And maybe one day sooner I can meet you. Maybe you'll do a cameo appearance at Food & Light. I can dream, right :)

And as an aside, the food there looks world class!! WOW! Super impressed!

P.s. Not sure if you made any gentle tweaks to your blog but for some reason it looks brighter, crisper, lighter...I dig it :) It could be in my imagination though.

Helene, it was such an honor to meet you. Thank you so much for sharing your time and knowledge - it was truly invaluable to me. And you are such a sweet, down to earth person, and I really appreciated that. I wish I could have been at evo and been able to spend some more time with you - next time!!

THanks for a great workshop, and it's always wonderful to see you. I love EVO So much, and I am so glad I was able to go for the second time as well. I loved how you captured it here. Have a great week! Keep in touch!

I feel like I was with you all. But I am humbly from Charlotte, NC. What a glorious opportunity to share the love and passion of photography. We spent our honeymoon in Park City...my but it has changed! But loved the shot of the hillside.

Thank you for this long series of photos, everyone's faces are radiant.

It was great having you in SLC and I had a great time helping with the photo workshop--you left us with so much of your knowledge and hands-on tutelage that your students will soon be masters. Thanks and hope to see you soon. Let's do it again! XO

Hi! I just surfed over to your site from Pioneer Woman's. And, to my great surprise, your first post was about my favorite city in the entire world: Park City! I keep trying to book a summer trip (to get away from the heat and humidity of the south) but have yet to do it. One day I will get out there! My husband does photography on the side, so maybe we will have to try out EVO some time!

Helene, this looked like a fantastic workshop. But what I really want to know is when are you coming to run a workshop in Melbourne, Australia? My husband and I will be the first to sign up when you do! Thanks for your wonderful Pixel to Plate, Natalie

I love love love your blog and I'm not just saying this, but its my absolute favourite!Wish I could have attended your workshop too. Any chance you'll be coming my way in Canada?:O)Your work is so inspiring and beautiful!Thank you.